It was getting really cold this morning, so I wore some long flannel pants under jeans, and tossed a hoodie on between my base layer (old t-shirt) and outer layer (a lined maintenance jacket like you'd see appliance installers wearing)

Kept plenty warm, it was a little overkill, actually.

Made it to the bus in record time, but still not "fast" by any stretch of the imagination. 12 MPH average on a 3 mile ride that's got plenty of uphill and downhill. I've never calculated how much climbing I do either way. That's next, I suppose.

I've decided that my backup bike really is the better commuter. The handlebars are flatter, it's a larger frame (some would say it's a bit big for me, it's a 18" frame, I'm 5'8" but it feels good and I can still straddle the top bar flat-footed). The Sorrento with knobbies on it is just tons of fun in the dirt, which I get to ride through (parking lot and road construction) if I want to take shortcuts to anywhere I'd normally go on bike. I don't trust the Outlook's thinner, lighter, and rigid frame going over the large limestone rocks and huge tractor ruts that I come across out there. Since it's lighter and rigid, it technically makes a more practical commuter bike for me. I think I'll leave the slicks on it, at least until it starts to get snowy and slippery. then I'll probably switch back to the Sorrento.

Anyhow, nice ride in, I'm not getting as winded, and I really feel like I'm making some good progress on my endurance and strength as well as weight loss. Combined with all the "Intangible" benefits of riding in, the thought of driving to work (or even to the bus stop) seems pointless.